Has RP transitioned into just another social media tool?

The simple answer is "yes", RallyPoint appears to be "just another social media tool". However, there is a difference on RallyPoint, the audience.

I signed up for just about everything in an effort to market my books. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube (yes, YouTube is a social media tool), LinkedIn, and, for a time, others including Dice.

I focus most of my time these days on RallyPoint. No, I'm not trying to sell my books here. I gave up on that long ago. Someone may discover them sometime in the future and my royalties will go to my progeny. I participate on RallyPoint because of the audience.

I have not once become embroiled in silly arguments on RallyPoint.

I have not been the target of ad hominem attacks on RallyPoint.

Surprisingly, political discussions occur on RallyPoint without apparent rancor. (At least, if anyone has taken offense to anything I've posted they kept it to themselves.)

I recognize that the Army I served in is vastly different from the one that defends America today. These youngsters are better trained and better equipped than my generation. However, I feel comfortable sharing the fundamentals of leadership as well as duty, honor, and country that seem to transcend generations. Hopefully they are learning as much from me as I am learning from them.

Lastly, I appreciate RallyPoint because it helps me stay connected to the military service. Although my time in the Army was less than a tenth of my life, it is a very important tenth and as I face my mortality I appreciate that tenth ever more.

There are other military discussion groups. Facebook and LinkedIn have several, but none compare...

RallyPoint has 4 categories of discussions, so it can be whatever you want it to be for you. For those looking to focus only military discussions, you can filter out everything else you don't want to see. Here is how to filter:

http://support.rallypoint.com/customer/portal/articles/1599148

If you're on desktop, you can access the military-only category here:
https://www.rallypoint.com/categories/military-discussions/answers

On mobile, just select from the drop down in the top called "All Categories" and choose the category you want...

You get what you look for out of it. If you look at the first few things on here then that is your choice but if you are looking for an actual conversation, I am sure you are capable of finding it. For me it brings answers for what I am going to do, should I get out. It provides some pretty good resources if you navigate your way to find them. If it isn't for you, it isn't for you. Just keep in mind that it has other resources than just speaking to people.

I don't think it is as drastic as a Facebook or Twitter, but definitely some areas where you can see that. I do see the value of some of the professional discussion that are conducted on here.

I've been on for awhile, but just recently became actively engaged in some posts. I've even posted my own question for discussion. As any other media tool there seems to be alot of context lost in this forum. I've been praised and chastised on mine.

The ones that jump down throats are usually the individuals who don't know what they are talking about nor have tact.

There is however, much good from it. I've been schooled on many areas and have learned so much.

Good question... The jury is still out with me. It is definitely social media... But I am hopeful the focus will remain professional discussion that impacts all veterans.

All work and no play makes RP a dull boy.

2LT (Join to see), RallyPoint can be exactly what you want it to be or not. I don't think I can improve on CPT Jack Durish's and LTC Yinon Weiss' observations. The members of RallyPoint are here because they want to be here.

There are, depending upon where you look, many different aspects to RallyPoint & a portion of each members responsibility is how they choose to use it. I will not argue that you can find discussions veering off on tangents of just about any subject matter. There are members who use humor or conversation to keep things light-hearted.

I believe you can also find a myriad of knowledge and skill discussions throughout RP that solve issues and enlighten everyone. Military networking is what you make of it. You can search for questions related to 670-1 & find several dozen different questions of relevant topic that may give you the direction or answer you looking for. Promotion issues fall along the same line as do many other questions that members discuss.

RP is unique for a lot of reasons and serves that purpose for many different members. I do agree it is a tool. You have to know how to use the tool in order to get the most out of it for your personal needs & I think you find that it is different for each individual member. Part of the 'allure' of RP is that you can use & participate as you see fit, you do not have to conform to one way of doing something.

I think RP can be used in many different ways, all of them relevant and helpful to veterans and service members. I admit being a veteran I am involved more with the social and post military life type discussions. Yet I've made contacts here for professional reasons as well. RP can fill many needs and is really what you make of it. I have a Linkdin account with tons of contacts and yet somehow I find myself utilizing RP more. I see a lot of military discussion going on here, not just the humorous and social chatting which are in my opinion also a good thing.